Help! My Firefox browser no longer processes HTTPS sites.

LSF · Sep 11, 2026

Turned on my computer and tried to log into my banking site (example in this case, Bank of America). Normally, when I click on the bookmark in firefox, the link shows up as "Bank of America - Banking, Credit Cards, Loans and Merrill Investing" (minus the quotation marks. This morning, it showed up as "www.bankofamerica.com/" (missing the https://). Rather than sending me to my normal login page, clicking on the link sent me to a very strange page that implied I must use the a cell phone app, with complicated page asking for verification info (to be honest, most of it meant nothing to me). I was trying to log in using my computer, not a cell phone app.

Strangely, when I manually add the missing https:// to the beginning of the link, it disappears (reverts back to the link without the https:// prefix), and takes me to the same useless page. It appears to my untrained eye that Firefox no longer recognizes the secure site. This seemed to happen shortly after I updated Firefox to the latest version, so I reverted back to the previous version, with the same results. I should note that the site I used as an example was not the only site with this issue, it happened on another banking site that also uses a secure connection.

I tried to access the site with Microsoft Edge, and also with Pale Moon, and it seems to work fine with either one.

Are there some settings that I might have messed up, or can change, in Firefox that would correct this problem.

It's driving me crazy!

Banjoman301 · Sep 11, 2026

In Firefox, go to Tools > Settings > Privacy and security > Connection and software security > Advanced settings

Check that "Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows" is enabled.

I was able to securely access the link you posted, with no issue.

KevTech · Sep 11, 2026

Banjoman301 said:
Check that "Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all windows" is enabled.

Does not matter as Firefox already upgrades connections to https and has since 2025.

Client Challenge

LSF · Sep 12, 2026

KevTech is correct. After following Banjomin301's instructions, made no difference. I still can't get it to work in Firefox.
In fact, when I tried to log in to this forum to reply (using Firefox), I experienced the same problem, since

Banjoman301 · Sep 12, 2026

KevTech said:
Does not matter as Firefox already upgrades connections to https and has since 2025.

Except there is an important caveat...

HTTPS-First is now the default: Firefox has integrated an "HTTPS-First" policy by default. When you type a URL, Firefox automatically tries to connect via HTTPS first before falling back to HTTP if the site doesn't support it. [1, 2]

Why HTTPS-Only is still stricter: Manually checking and enabling HTTPS-Only Mode is still highly recommended. Unlike the default setup, HTTPS-Only Mode will completely block an insecure connection and show a warning page if a site fails to support encryption, rather than seamlessly letting you fall back to an unencrypted HTTP protocol. [1, 2]

LSF · Sep 12, 2026

Sorry, hit the wrong key.
As I was saying in my previous (incomplete) reply,
KevTech is correct. After following Banjomin301's instructions, made no difference. I still can't get it to work in Firefox.
In fact, when I tried to log in to this forum to reply (using Firefox), I experienced the same problem, since login here also requires an HTTPS site.
The result was the same, HTTPS vanished from the link and I got a similar strange page. Therefore, I'm using Pale Moon for this reply.

Banjoman301 · Sep 12, 2026

In Firefox, you should see a shield icon with a checkmark in the address box next to the URL...

Click on that icon, and a small windows displays, with "Connection secure" in the upper right.

There are important differences between the Firefox "default" and "HTTPS-only".

Read the replies carefully.

If your getting an error message, post it.

EB2XR6 · Sep 12, 2026

Type about:config in the Firefox address bar.
Accept the risk and continue.
In the Search preference name bar type browser.urlbar.trimurlS and press enter
Click the toggle bar (two way arrows on the right) to change from true to false.

LSF · Sep 12, 2026

Banjomin301, I clicked the icon, as you suggested, and it showed "Connection secure". It also showed that 4 sites were tracking me, suggesting that might be what's causing the issue. However, switching off tracking blocker, or switching to enhanced blocking, made no difference. The problem still persisted.

LSF · Sep 12, 2026

EB2RX6,
I did as you suggested, and toggled the setting to false, and it made no difference. The problem still exists.
I'm thinking about saving my FF bookmarks to a file, COMPLETELY uninstalling FF (all traces), then re-installing the latest version again, and re-importing the bookmarks. Does this seem like a reasonable course of action?

Wassa · Sep 12, 2026

LSF said:
EB2RX6,
I did as you suggested, and toggled the setting to false, and it made no difference. The problem still exists.
I'm thinking about saving my FF bookmarks to a file, COMPLETELY uninstalling FF (all traces), then re-installing the latest version again, and re-importing the bookmarks. Does this seem like a reasonable course of action?

Just do a reset - type ---about:support --- in the address bar and press Enter

Ghot · Sep 12, 2026

@LSF

Q: Help! My Firefox browser no longer processes HTTPS sites

A: Firefox doesn't show any http or https in the address bar anymore. That doesn't mean you're NOT at an https site.
Also, your Settings should look like this...

As @EB2XR6 mentioned, you can change that in about:config

What he forgot to mention is that you have to restart Firefox for that to take effect.

I just made that change in about:config and it works on your bankofamerica link in post #1 this topic...

Note: YES... I made my Firefox look like this. It's still the latest version (v155.0.1).

Secret Squirrel · Sep 12, 2026

LSF, rogue extensions are the likely culprits for this. Firefox's Troubleshooting Mode will load the browser with all extensions and custom settings temporarily disabled and it's a good test.

Hold down the SHIFT key while launching Firefox then click "Open". Let me know whether Bank of America works fine it that mode or not. Type the address into the Address Bar rather than using a bookmark.

wiganken · Sep 12, 2026

As others have said, you will be on an https site but it no longer shows unless you click twice on the url.

As this thread appears on my Firefox: -

After two clicks on the url: -

Banjoman301 · Sep 12, 2026

LSF said:
Banjomin301, I clicked the icon, as you suggested, and it showed "Connection secure".

So there is really no HTTPS issue...

HTTPS does not block tracking.

I would suggest using uBlock Origin.

We use it on Firefox, and Microsoft Edge (still works at this time).

TheVisitor · Sep 12, 2026

If you have not tried this it might help: Click the 'Shield" then click the 'Clear cookies and site data' - click YES , now see if it works for you,.

LSF · Sep 13, 2026

Secret Squirrel, thanks for your reply.
YES! It worked after opening FF while holding the SHIFT key.
Now, using this information, how can I fix FF to do the same when started without holding the SHIFT key?

Secret Squirrel · Sep 13, 2026

LSF said:
YES! It worked after opening FF while holding the SHIFT key.
Now, using this information, how can I fix FF to do the same when started without holding the SHIFT key?

Thanks for the feedback. Troubleshooting Mode runs with all extensions disabled so it's likely to be a Firefox extension that's causing this.

In normal mode, click the menu icon top-right -> Add-ins and Themes -> Extensions. Disable any likely suspects such as those you don't know or trust or were recently installed. Try Bank of America again until you find the culprit.

LSF · Sep 13, 2026

Secret Squirrel, your last suggestion came a bit too late. I vented my frustration by eradicating FF entirely (using Revo Uninstaller), then did a clean install of the latest FF version 155.0.1 (which was the one giving me the problem in the first place). Now all works well, and I'm still ignorant about what happened.
My issue now is organizing my home page. I can't figure out how to add the background photo that I had before, and eliminating the crap that FF put on it by default, but at least my bookmarks work again.

I'd also like to thank you and all the others that joined in to help me. Looks like I've got a lot of "Likes" to give out.

Ghot · Sep 13, 2026

@LSF

In FF Help > Troubleshoot mode... will restart FF with no add-ons or extensions running.

Close and restart FF to get back to normal mode.

Help! My Firefox browser no longer processes HTTPS sites.

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Active member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Active member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computers